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The ILB crew located the boat shortly after 9.30am. Neither person required medical attention and they were towed back to shore at Dun Laoghaire.Photo: RNLI Dun Laoghaire/Facebook

Two sailors were rescued by the Dun Laoghaire RNLI Inshore lifeboat this morning after their small dinghy capsized on Dublin Bay.

The incident occurred shortly before 9am off the West Pier at Dun Laoghaire when the two person crew capsized in the fresh breeze.

Attempts to right their RS200-type boat were unsuccessful and two walkers on the pier spotted their difficulty and called 999 / 112 to raise the alarm.

The Irish Coast Guard’s MRCC Dublin (Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre) requested that RNLI Inshore lifeboat launch immediately to locate and assist the two casualties. The wind and tide conditions were gradually setting the capsized dinghy in the direction of Dublin Port shipping lane.

The ILB crew located the boat shortly after 9.30am. Neither person required medical attention and they were towed back to shore at Dun Laoghaire.

“The RNLI encourages anyone heading to sea to carry some means of signalling for help,” commented Stephen Wynne, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Dun Laoghaire. “Fortunately on this occasion, two pier-walkers spotted the problem and called for help. Otherwise, a 2.5 mile drift northwards and a more serious outcome was likely to have occurred.”